NHL Blog Beat – Tuesday, April 23, 2013.

The NHL playoff watch continues, plus commentaries on the Maple Leafs, Alexander Ovechkin, Ales Hemsky, the Canadiens and much more.

PUCK DADDY: Greg Wyshynski has his latest update of the NHL Playoff Death Watch.

GRANTLAND: Maple Leafs fan Sean McIndoe introduces us to the now-playoff bound Leafs, while over at his blog DOWN GOES BROWN, he employs his satirical skills to look back at players who’ve led the NHL in scoring.

Matt Cooke had some choice words for an Ottawa Sun reporter.

DEAD SPIN: Ottawa Sun hockey columnist Don Brennan assures the world Matt Cooke was wrong when he accused Brennan of lacking balls. The rest of the hockey world shakes its head and moves on.

RUSSIAN MACHINE NEVER BREAKS: Ian Oland believes one reason Capitals fans should loudly chant “MVP” whenever Alexander Ovechkin is on the ice is to stick it to Ovechkin’s critics in the press.

VINTAGE LEAF MEMORIES: Michael Langlois reminds those nervous nellies in Leafs land fretting about Jame Reimer having to carry the team that the Leafs, throughout their history, have been carried by strong goaltending.

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